Apparatus for impregnating wood.



o o m M, m. u A d nu t n e t a P A D m B E L a a 8 7 5 5 6 nm N APPARATUS FOR IMPBEGNATING WOOD (Application filed Mar. 31, 1900.)

3 Sheets-Sheet (No Model.)

ms'uonms rs1-ms co, pum-anno., WASMNGTUN. o. c.

No. 655,788. Patented Aug. I4, |900.

. G. F. LEBlUDA.`

APPARATUS FDR IMPREGNATING WOOD.

(Application Med Mar. 31, 1900.)

(No Model.)

1N: Nonms PETERS co. moraumo, msmNs-ron, n4 c,

N0..655,788. Patented Aug. i4, |900.l

G. F. LEBmDA. APPARATUS FOR IMPREGNATING WOOD.

(Applicationmea mr. s1, 1900.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

ESZL/ y A TOFNE YS TH: Nonms PETERS co., Priora-urac.. WASHINGTON, D c.

arri@ P ArvnrrrI OFFICE.

GEORG FRIEDRICH LEBIODA, OF BOULOGNE-SUR-SEINE, FRANCE.

APPARATUS FOR IMPREGNATING WOOD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 655,788, dated August 14, 1900. Application filed March 3l, 1900. Serial No. 10.977. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concer-71,:

Be it known that I, GEORG FRIEDRICH Ln- BIODA, a subject of the King of Prussia, German Emperor, residing at the city of Boulogne-sur-Seine, in the Republic of France, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Impregnating Wood, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to an apparatus for impregnating tree-trunks and timber longitudinally in a constant current.

The improvement consists in a container or vessel being provided at one end with a door or cover which is iitted with a number of pipes extending into bell-mouthed cutters and at its other end closed by a cover having special partitions in such a way that a corresponding number of tubes fitted with pistons and also extended into bell-mouthed cutters may be moved forward under with the action of a pressure medium in eitherdirection and also serve for injecting or withdrawing the impregnating liquid. For this object the partitions and the cover at one end of the container or receiver are arranged to form three different chambers, the outer one of which serves for injecting the impregnating liquid into the Wood, the middle one for producing the movement of the pistons in one direction, and the inner one for producing the movement of the pistons in the other direction. At the other end the cover, which is preferably suspended on a hinge and fastened by screw-bolts, forms in common with an inserted wall or partition a chamber which allows the impregnating liquid to be conveyed through the wood from this end also and after the be1lmouthed cutters have been released at the other end by the use of the pressure medium effects the release of the completelytreated wood from the4 bell-shaped cutters provided at this end.

The following may be employed as impregnating mediums: first, cold or Warm water, either pure or mixed Withsuitable additions in order to expel natural sap from the Wood and to ripen the latter; second, dyes of suitable composition for artificially coloring the wood third, antiseptic or the like substances which render harmless substances liable to ferment in the wood, and thus prevent decomposition and protect the wood against the attacks of grubs and insects;

, the covers or doors g and l.

` terior of the vessel. connected with the cylinder ct by means of a fourth, freproof substances for protecting the Wood against destruction by conflagration, and, lifth, other suitable liquids orgaseons substances which are suitable for treating tree-trunks and longitudinal wood.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a longitudinal section of the improved apparatus; Fig. 2, an end view; Fig. 3, a vertical section on the line A B of Fig. l; Fig. 4, a vertical section on the line C D of Fig. l. Fig. 5 is a view of a detail.

The apparatus is composed of a cylinder or other suitable receiver c, which may rest in a horizontal position on a suitable frame or support. The cylinder c is provided at both ends Withannular iianges for securing Y A steam-coilb is arranged in theinterior of the cylinder, which l coil allows of the liquid contained in the interior of the vessel being heated. Two rails or bars c for the rollers CZ of the carriage e, containing the Wood, are provided in the in- The cover or door Z is hingeh and may be firmly connected with the annular liange of the vessel ct by means of three screw-bolts t', while indiarubber gaskets 7c or metal or other suitable washerrings may also be employed for insuring a hermetic closing of the joint. y

The door or cover g in the present example of construction is attached to the vessel a by means of long screw-bolts fm, three partitionsj o s being inserted between the door and the vessel. After the screw-bolts 'm have been suitably tightened up an air-tight joint is secured by means of the flange n. The cover g forms, with the three internal partitions j 0 s, three inner chambers pq yr. The partitions j o s are perforated, in the example shown, at twelve places. In each of these perforated places a pipe t is adj ustably mounted, which extends from the chamber p into the vessel c. The end of the pipe t to- Ward the chamber p is free, while the other end, toward the vessel ot, extends into a bellmouthed cutter, which can penetrate into the end faces of the Wood to be treated.

Lining pieces or bushes o are inserted in openings in the partition j, which bushes in turny allow passage to the pipes t. Stuffingboxes w are inserted in the bushes o on the IOO `the partition j is rendered possible.

side of the partition facing the chamber p, which stuffing-boxes or glands may be held immovably by screw-nuts fr, which are tightened up, and thus the thorough tight jointing of the pipes t from the chamber p toward The ends of the pipes t are fitted tightly from the cylinder a in a similar manner in the partition s by means of stufiing-boxes or glands directly let in the partition.

^ Each perforation of the central partition o is formed as acylinder, in which a piston attached to the pipe t is movable. This piston consists of a disk y, which is engaged on both sides by leather washer-rings e. On each of these rings .e a metal disk is placed, and the different parts are combined to a solid whole by means of nuts l, mounted on the pipes t. (See Fig. 5.)

Each of the chambers 1J q r is provided with a tap-that isthe chamber p with a tap 2, the chamber q with a tap 3, and the chamber r with atap 4r.. These taps may, .accordingto requirelnents, be utili-Zed sometimes for thel admission and sometimes for the discharge of the impregnating liquid or suitable medium of pressure. The cover ordoort is also provided with a chamber, attached to the container. In the wall of this chamber, facing the container, there .are mounted twelve pipes extending into bell-mouthed cutters 6, which :are in communication with the chamber 5. The `cutters of these pipes stand directly opposite the cutters ofthe other tubes at the other end.

Instead of the number of pistons or perforations shown of course other proportions may be chosen, according to requirements and according to the number and diam-eter of the pieces of wood to be treated. lt is also easy to ystop up one or other of the pipes when it :is desired to put it out of action. Further, a A.ta-1p 7 is provided on vthe door or cover Z, which tap is in communication with the chamber 5 :and serves sometimes for admitting the impregnating liquid intothe container and sometimes for discharging the same. The container a has on its periphery a manometer S, .an .air-cock 9, a cock l0 for attaching thereto the high-pressu re pump, and a tap ll for the inlet and outlet of the impregnating liquid. A pipe 12 serves for the admission of steam into the steam-coil b and a pipe l3.

for the discharge of the said steam.

The pieces of wood to be treated are preferablyarran ged in a frame wagon in the manner shown in Figs. land Lt, the compartments of which wagon may exactly correspond to the arrangement and number of the pistons; but it is equally easy to adjust all the pistons on a single trunk when the latter fills up the diameter of the injecting apparatus. Also several pistons may be adjusted on one trunk, and trunks of different diameters may be treated at once so long as the frame wagon is suitably arranged.

The operation and mode of Working of the apparatus hereinbefore described are as follows: The three screws t' of the cover or door lare unfastened and the latter is opened. The Vframe wagon loaded with wood is then inserted, which wagon rests on a suitable support and is run into the opened apparatus until the ends of the pieces of timber encounter the cutters. The door lis then closed and again made fast by means of the bolts ron the apparatus. All taps are then closed eX- cept the tap 3, through which impregnating liquid is admitted into the chamber q by means of a force-pump. A manometer ar.- ranged on the said pump soon shows whether the liquid in the chamber q is under pressure.y As soon as it has commenced to work the liquid will force the pistons and the pipes t, connected with them, toward the interior of the vessel a, and this movement will continue until the cutters tt and also the cutters 6 of the cover Z have penetrated sufticiently'deep into the wood, whereupon the cutters are se curely ti ght-washered toward the Wood. The automatic independent operation of each piston allows pieces of wood of different lengths to be impregnated simultaneously. The tap 3 is then closed, the high pressure in the chamber q remaining unweakened. The tap l1 is then opened and the vessel a is filled with impregnating liquid, the air-tap 9 being opened to allow of the vessel being more easily filled and again closed when it is lilled. The tap 2 is then opened and liquid is allowed to penetrate into the chamber p vby the action of the high-pressure pump, the liquid soon passing through the pipes t and under the increasing pressure through the tighttting cutters u penetrating into the wood and-trave-rsing the latter through its entire length in order to pour into the chamber 5 through the pipes provided with cutters y(5. The precaution is then adopted of opening the tap 7 in order to allow the liquid accumulating in the chamber 5 to be discharged. Preferably this discharge from the tap 7 is returned by the pump tol the impregnating substances and in the course of the operation is again pumped into the cylinders.

In the course of treating a series of long timbers or tree trunks it is preferable to Change the direction of the impregnating fluid. Where dyes are used, this is absolutely necessary, because one end of the trunk might easily be `more highly colored than the other. The change of direction is also advisable even during the impregnation, because the respective operations proceed very rapidly, and the impregnation is much m-ore regular when there is such a change ot' direction. For this object the pressure of the pump is shut oft from the chamber p and the liquid is allowed to run out of this chamber, the tap 2 being llett open. The chamber q remains always under pressure with the 'tap 3 shut. The pressure-pump is then caused to force the ICO TIO

liquid through the tap 7 into the chamber 5, from whence it penetrates the wood through the bell-mouthed cutters 6, and after passing through the entire length of the Wood finally reaches the chamber p through the pipes t. From the chamber p it runs away through the tap 2, which has remained open and can be again charged with the impregnating substances. After this treatment the wood is thoroughly and reliably impregnated in all its parts. During the treatment the manometer 8 has indicated the average pressure ruling in the cylinder, While a safety-valve arranged on the pressure-pump has provided that the high pressure employed shall not exceed the power of resistance of the apparatus. The steam-coil b has maintained the liquid during the impregnation at the desired temperature. A device may be arranged on the outer pipe connection, which device maintains automatically the heat to the desired degree.

Before the completely-treated wood is removed from the apparatus it is necessary to again release the cutters a and 6, which have penetrated into the wood. In order to allow of this being done, the taps 1l, 3, and 7 and the air-tap 9 are opened, whereby the cylinder o. and the chambers q and 5 are freed from pressure and from the liquid. The liquid under pressure is then allowed to enter the chamber fr, the tap 4 being opened, by

which means the pistons very soon force the pipes i toward the chamber p, causing the release of the cutters u and their entire withdrawal from the ends of the wood. Pressure is then shut off the chamber r and the liquid is allowed to run out of the same. The liquid under pressure is then conveyed to the chamber 5 and penetrating through the pipes and cutters 6 releases the wood from the said cutters, because the Wood is now free and without support at the other end.` In consequence of this last manipulation the wood is now free at both ends, so that after the door Zhas been opened the frame wagon can be removed from the apparatus, and then after the injecting apparatus has received a fresh charge the operation hereinbefore described may be repeated.

The method hereinbefore described of impregnating wood allows of a complete and extremely-rapid treatment of the hardest and greenest or freshest Wood of very large diameter. The impregnation also takes place in a constant current, and the liquid is forced to take its flow through the wood in the direction of its fibers. Consequently the necessary quantity of impregnating substances may be deposited in the wood.

The great advantages which this improved apparatus affords over all hitherto employed are as follows:

First. The Wood is not merelyimpregnated on its periphery, but the heart or core of the wood is also impregnated.

Second. It is possible to treat whole trunks of the largest diameter and of any length.

Third. The impregnation of the wood can take place whether the latter be in a green or seasoned condition.

` Fourth. The impregnation takes place with extraordinary rapidity, although the apparatus may appear somewhat complicated in its construction and operation. In a few hours freshly-felled very hard tree-trunkssuch, for instance, as those of the iles or holm oakmay be entirely freed from the natural sap and converted at once into wood fit for use. In one hour entire tree-trunks receive an excellent and complete coloring. In fifteen minutes lir or beech railway-sleepers and in twenty-five minutes oak railwaysleepers may be impregnated with antiseptic substances. In equally-short periods whole trunks or even smaller sections of wood may be impregnated with fire-resisting substances, and thus made iireproof against the attack of the hottest fire.

The seasoning and coloring of the wood and also its treatment with antiseptic and re-re sisting substances may be undertaken with green wood without any previous drying or evaporating.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, ishm l. An apparatus for impregnating treetrunks or wood longitudinally, consisting of a container a being closed at one end by a cover or door provided with a number of pipes extending into bell-mouthed cutters 6 and at the other end by a cover or door g in combination with three partitions j c s, of which the center one o has a suitable number f cylinders for receiving pistons attached to pipes t, which pipes also extend into bellmouthed cutters uand pass through the partitionsy and s by means of stuffing-boxes, the said be1l-1nouthed cutters being adapted to penetrate the ends of the wood to be treated when a pressure medium is admitted to the middle chamber q, but being forced out of the Woodon the admission of the pressure medium to the inner chamber r while from the outer chamber p situated between the door g and the partition 7' the impregnating liuid can be injected into the wood substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

2. In combination with the container, the bell-mouthed cutters, the conduits leading thereto, a cover carrying one set of said cutters, said cover comprising a chamber and being hinged to the container and a pipe leading to said chamber, substantially as described.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two witnesses.

GEORG FRIEDRICH LEBIODA.

Witnesses:

EDWARD P. MAoLnAN, GEORGE E. LIGHTo IOO 

